How to Find the Best Regimen for Your Skin

If showing a little love to your skin is one of the highlights of your 2018 self care to do list, Dallas is an excellent place to be. But there simply isn’t a one-size-fits-all when it comes to skincare, so we’ve called on experts in the industry to help navigate the best regimen by skin type.

Ask an Expert

Before engaging in any procedure or professional treatment involving your skin, the first step is calling on an expert. While there are the traditional categories of dry, oily, combination and sensitive skin, there are a lot of classifications in between. “Having someone evaluate your skin by touching, and thoroughly examining is the best way to get some assistance in finding just the right products and treatments for your skin type,” Mary Graff, owner of Vitalize Medical Spa says. “Find someone that has experience and knowledge in evaluating various skin conditions and truly looks closely at your skin.”

If you have major skin concerns, you may require attention from a dermatologist, according to Dr. Graff. Otherwise, a medical spa is satisfactory to determine what’s best for your skin.

What’s On Trend Isn’t Always for You

Just because your favorite blogger on Instagram posted an epic Insta story about her laser treatment doesn’t necessarily mean it will work for you. Graff says it’s imperative to differentiate hype on social media versus what is good for your skin based on the active ingredients and science behind the product.

“What’s best for your skin might be totally different than what’s recommended for a friend or family member,” Dr. Sonya Jagwani, dermatologist at North Dallas Dermatology Associates says. “For example, some of the chemical peels and lasers that we use are not safe for patients with darker skin types. Similarly, many patients struggle with acne, dry skin or rosacea. All of this information helps us to customize your skin care and select products and procedures that are right for you.”

Dr. Jagwani also says that even if you’re categorized in one of the aforementioned skin type groupings, this doesn’t address the wide variety of other factors that impact your skin type. Acne, sun damage, skin color, redness and eczema are just a few of the common ones she sees daily with her patients.

Trial and Error

With so many new discoveries in skincare, it’s always a good idea to reevaluate what products you are using from time to time. “Using a product for more than a few weeks will help you see the full potential if something is jiving with your skin,” Graff says. “Make sure you aren’t paying too much for a product that has no real efficacy by looking at the delivery methods and what makes this product so special.”

Cleanse, Protect, and Prevent

Keeping your skin clean and shielding it are two easy things you can do on your own, every day. Dr. Jagwani recommends a basic face wash. Specifically for individuals prone to acne, she suggests an exfoliating cleanser with alpha and beta hydroxyl acids. But she cautions that over cleansing (for any skin type) with harsh scrubs and products like Clarisonic can actually damage the skin barrier, making the skin intolerable to any other product on it, even if it’s marketed for sensitive skin.

“Antioxidants are extremely important to protect and prevent skin aging,” Graff says. “We wear SPF to protect our skin from the damage of the sun but we also need an antioxidant to protect against environmental damage to our skin cells.”

Essentials to consider adding to your regime include various forms of Vitamin C, coffee, grape seed and green tea extracts. Dr. Jagwani is also a firm believer in Retin-A to help prevent fine lines and wrinkles, as it boosts collagen and minimizes pores. She says she only prescribes to patients who are not pregnant or nursing.

Going Beyond At-Home Care

For Dr. Jagwani, Microdermabrasions are popular treatments to exfoliate and buff the skin, followed by a superficial glycolic acid peel, which helps to even the skin tone and brighten it. Of course, depending on your skin type, you would need to determine if this was a good fit by consulting your dermatologist or medical spa professionals.

Dr. Graff says that hydrafacials are quite popular among her patients, as it’s generally a good fit for most skin types and requires no downtime. A hydrafacial exfoliates, extracts and infuses, while helping restore fresher-looking, healthy skin.

Microneedling is another popular, on trend procedure, and is a prime example how you can have it catered towards your skin type and skin needs. “It is a minimally invasive procedure with fantastic results in facial rejuvenation,” Dr. Jagwani says. “We use a device with fine needles to create tiny punctures in the top layer of the skin. This triggers a healing response, stimulating your own body to create new collagen and elastin.”

So now you’re armed with information to help you discover your healthiest skin yet. Regardless of your skin type, working with a dermatologist or medical spa can provide reassurance that you’re providing your skin with the nutrients and protection it needs to stay healthy.